Air stopper and holder for toy balloons



April 16, 1940. G. MAGRAN AIR STOPPER AND HOLDER FOR TOY BALLOONS Filed Aug. 24, 1939 mvrm-on eare Magma? BY.

balloon to plug the same.

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES Am STOPPER. AND HOLDER FOR TOY;

. BALLOONS George Magran, New York, N. Y.

Application August 24, 1939, Serial No. 291,677

5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an air stopper and holder for toy balloons. l

The invention has for an object the use of a spherical member, in conjunction with a toy balloon having" a neck portion through which it may be inflated, arranged so as to be normally disposed within the balloon and adapted to plug said neck portion, and an element attached to said spherical member and extending from said neck portion by which the spherical member may be moved into plugging condition.

Still further the invention proposes to so arrange the element mentioned in the previous paragraph that it may also be used as a holder for the inflated toy balloon.

A further object of this invention resides in constructing the spherical member of certain kinds of material adapted to. accomplish the plugging operation in an efficient manner.

Still further the invention proposes a novel method by which the spherical member may be disposed within the balloon.

The dominating. feature of the construction 2 resides in the fact that the balloon may be inflated by blowing into the neck portion, and after it has been inflated as desired, the element may be pulled to causethe spherical member to assume a position in the neck portion of the Thus the balloon will maintain its inflated condition. l

A further object of the invention resides in a modified arrangement by which the spherical member may be slightly expanded, when desired, after it has been disposed within the neck portion of the balloon to further assist in the plugging operation previously mentioned.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a stopper and holder for toy balloons I as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention aremore particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view'of a toyballoon with an air stopper and holder associated therewith, in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective viewof the spherical member and holding element,

sectional view taken during one step of the process for associating these parts with each other.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a spherical member and holding element constructed according to a modified form of this invention.

. Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the spherical member shown in Fig. 5, in use;

The air stopper and holder for toy balloons in accordance with this invention is used in combi-, nation on a conventional toy balloon I0 having a neck portion ll through which it may be inflated. The air stopperand holder includes a spherical member [2 normally disposed within the balloon free from the neck portion l I, and adapted to be moved into the base part of the neck portion for plugging the same. An element I4 is attached to the spherical member l2 and extends up through the neck portion II by which the spherical member 12 may be'manipulated as desired.

Preferably the spherical member [2. is made from rubber, though other materials may be used with some satisfaction, as for example cork. The element l4 may comprise a cord or an elastic band. At its extended end it is provided with a ring l5, or other member, by which itmay be gripped. If the element II is elastic it may be knotted upon the ring 15 by slipping one end of the band through the ring, and then passing the other 'endof the band through the first mentioned end, in a manner as indicated in Fig. 1.

The'inner'end of the element 14 is secured to the spherical member l2 by a fastening element l6, which may comprise a metal staple. g

It is intended that the spherical member I2 and the associated member l4 may be manufactured separate from the balloon. It may be engaged in the balloon by first rolling up the neck portion of the balloon as indicated by reference numeral l in Fig. 4. Then the spherical memher [2 is placed on the rolledup neck portion II' and the neck portion is now unrolled over the spherical member. Then by pressing on the: spherical member through the neck portion of the balloon, it is possible to force the spherical member into the main body of the balloon.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Normally the spherical member l2 freely depends within the main portion of the balloon Ill. The neck portion of the balloon may be engaged in ones mouth and the balloon inflated. The neck portion may be held closed with ones fingers. Thus the strand I4 may be pulled, and the neck portion released, so that the spherical member l4 quickly moves into a position in the base of the neck portion of the balloon as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Now the spherical member acts as a stopper holding the air within the In Figs. 5 and 6, a modified form of the in-' vention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the construction of the spherical member and itsoperating element. In this form of the invention the sphericalmember I2 is formed with an incision I8 extended in from oneside. Withinthisincision there-is a means for expanding the compass of the spherical member to the sides of the incision. This means comprises a pair-of arms 59 and which are pivotally connectedtogetherat one of their-.ends by apintle 2!. The outer ends of these arms are pivotally supported by pintles '22 and .23, respectively, within cavities 2 formed in the side walls of the incision -8. Small metallic or other rigid stripsof material am set into the cavities 24 to limit outward pivoting of the arms. t9 and 2D. A rod M is pivotally mounted upon the pintlei2l, and at its outer end is provided with aring portion I5.

The .air stopper and holder may be engaged into and out'of a balloon in the same way as the preferred form. However after the toy balloon has been inflated the rod i4 is pulled to engage the spherical member I? into'the neck portion'l-I of the 'toyballoon. Simultaneously when the rod 14 is pulled the arms is and Edwill be pivoted outwards, to the positions indicated in Fig. 6, wheretheyengage against rigid elements :25. In these positions the arms is and :28 spread "the material of the-spherical member 'iZ'to the sides of the incision 15,8 increasing the compass of the spherical member at this area. This increased size ofthe spherical member will assist in plugging-the neck of the balloon.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do-not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the rightis reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and .desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: l

l. In combination with a toy balloon having a neckportion which may beinflated, a spherical member within said balloon and adapted to be plugged in said neck portion having an incision in one side, means within said incision and movable to spread the compass of said spherical member,-and an element connected with said means and extending from-said neck by which the spherical member may be moved into plugging position. i

'2. "Incombination with a toy balloon having a neck :portion which maybe inflated, a spherical member withinsaidlballoon and adapted to be plugged in said neck portion and having an incision :in one side, means within said incision and movable to spread thecompass of said spherical member, and an element connected with said means and extending from said neck by'which the-spherical member may be moved into plugging position, said means comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at one of their ends, and at their outer ends pivotally connected at points upon the'side Wall of said incision, said arms normally being directed inwards, and means for limiting outward pivoting of the arms into a position in which the material of said spherical member is spread.

3. In combination with a toy balloon having a neck portion which may be inflated, a spherical member within said balloon and adapted to be plugged in said neck portion and having an incision in one side, means within said incision andmovable to spread the compass of said spherical member, and an element connected with said .means'sand extending from said neck by which .the spherical member may be moved into plugging position, said means comprising a pair .ofarms pivotally connected at one of theirends, and .at'their outer ends pivotally connected at point upon the .side 'wall of said incision, said arms-normally being directed'inwards, and means forlimitingoutward pivoting of the arms intoa position in which .thematerialof said spherical member :is spread, said element comprising a rod which is pivotally connected with the pivotal connected ends'of saidzarms.

4. Ina device of the class described, a plug for closing a neck opening, comprising a spherical member adapted to be drawn into said neck opening and having an incision extending inwards from one .side thereof, apair of arms arranged in end alignment andlocated'within said incision and having their outer ends pivotally connected'to opposite walls of said incision and their, inner endsdirected away from the 'open end of said .zincision and 'pivotally connected together, and a rod having its lower end pivotally attached to theflpivot point of the inner ends of said arms and-extending from the end of said neck'opening, whereby said rod .inaybe pulled for moving said spherical member into position in said neck opening after which saidrod may be moved rela tive to said sphericalmember to pivot said arms past ahead center and until'they are directed towards the openlen'dof said incisionto expand said spherical'memberagainst the walls of said neck opening.

5. ;In a device-of the class described, a plug for closing a neck opening, comprising a spherical member adapted to be drawninto said neck opening and having an incision extending inwards from one side thereof, a pair of arms arranged in end alignment and located within said incision and having their outer ends pivotally'connected to opposite walls of said incision and their inner ends directed away from the open end of said incision and pivotally connected together, and a rod'having its'lower'end pivotally attached to the pivot'point of the inner ends of said arms and 'extendingfrom the end of said neck-opening, wherebysaid rod may be pulled for-moving said spherical member into position in saidneck opening after which said rod maybe moved relative to said spherical member to:pivot said arms past a-deadcenter and until they are directed towards the open end of said incision to expand said spherical member against the walls of said neck opening, and smallmetallic strips mounted on the top walLof said incision to limit outward pivoting of said armsto a position in which'said spherical member will be expanded.

GEORGE MAGRAN. 

